Laurel Middle School

Summary:

Laurel Middle School is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in the Laurel School District in Laurel, Delaware, with a student population of 473 as of the 2022-2023 school year. The school's performance has been a concern, as it has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Delaware middle schools and received low ratings from SchoolDigger.

Laurel Middle School's academic performance varies significantly by student subgroup, with Hispanic students performing relatively well, ranking 18th out of 37 Delaware middle schools in ELA and Math, while White and African American students perform poorly, ranking 33rd and 33rd out of 43-45 schools, respectively. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 10.5% to 19% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Proficiency rates on standardized tests are consistently lower than the state and district averages across all grade levels and subject areas.

Compared to nearby middle schools, such as Millsboro Middle School, Woodbridge Middle School, Georgetown Middle School, and Seaford Middle School, Laurel Middle School's performance lags behind, with lower proficiency rates, higher chronic absenteeism, and worse statewide rankings. The school's struggles appear to be exacerbated by socioeconomic factors, as its low-income student population may be a significant driver of its academic challenges.

Detail:

Public 7-8

1133 S Central Ave
Laurel, DE 19956

(302) 875-6110

District: Laurel School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
46^th of 54 Delaware Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,007

Students who attend Laurel Middle School usually attend:

High:

Laurel Senior High School

Feeder schools for Laurel Middle School:

Elementary:	Laurel Elementary School
	North Laurel Early Learning Academy

Student/teacher ratio: 15.8

Number of students: 437

Racial breakdown:

White:

42.8%

Hispanic:

24.7%

African American:

23.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 51.8%

See top rated Delaware middle schools

Compare Laurel Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Laurel Middle School ranks worse than 85.2% of middle schools in Delaware. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.37. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Laurel Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (42.8%), Hispanic (24.7%), African American (23.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Laurel Middle School is 15.8. (See more...)

Compare Laurel Middle School employs 27.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Laurel Middle School is $12,007.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Laurel Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurel Middle School 46^th of 54 Delaware public middle schools. (See Laurel Middle School in the ranking list.)

Middle School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Laurel School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Laurel School District 29^th of 32 Delaware school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Laurel Middle School

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Rank History for all students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2015	18.65	40^th	49	18.4%
2016	31.42	25^th	35	28.6%
2017	44.50	21^st	35	40.0%
2018	63.94	12^th	35	65.7%
2019	49.76	28^th	52	46.2%
2021	25.20	36^th	47	23.4%
2022	35.12	32^nd	51	37.3%
2023	32.34	34^th	53	35.8%
2024	22.37	46^th	54	14.8%

See the entire list of Delaware Middle School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	59.06	14^th	41	65.9%
2021	26.03	16^th	19	15.8%
2022	55.51	13^th	38	65.8%
2023	46.79	18^th	40	55.0%
2024	33.56	27^th	39	30.8%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	56.42	23^rd	49	53.1%
2021	24.25	30^th	38	21.1%
2022	33.34	33^rd	50	34.0%
2023	36.65	31^st	50	38.0%
2024	24.26	39^th	49	20.4%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	44.76	29^th	49	40.8%
2021	19.98	32^nd	38	15.8%
2022	32.07	32^nd	50	36.0%
2023	25.70	36^th	50	28.0%
2024	16.53	44^th	49	10.2%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	58.33	14^th	44	68.2%
2022	41.42	19^th	41	53.7%
2023	28.53	33^rd	43	23.3%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	62.14	11^th	35	68.6%
2021	33.16	15^th	18	16.7%
2022	47.06	18^th	37	51.4%
2023	45.48	17^th	37	54.1%
2024	48.33	18^th	37	51.4%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Laurel Middle School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	DE State Percentile
2019	47.33	26^th	43	39.5%
2021	21.83	36^th	41	12.2%
2022	31.47	31^st	45	31.1%
2023	25.03	33^rd	44	25.0%
2024	14.09	41^st	45	8.9%

See the entire list of Best Delaware Middle Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Delaware Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Delaware Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Laurel Middle School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2014	335	191	7	47	6	1	14	601
2015	343	206	11	59	5	4	7	635
2016	353	216	9	75	3	2	8	666
2017	380	232	9	83	4	2	18	728
2018	427	233	11	107	3	1	40	822
2019	322	162	4	96	11	1	35	631
2020	346	176	7	120	7	1	56	713
2021	336	154	8	141	8	3	51	701
2022	335	145	4	144	8	4	57	697
2023	210	101	3	110	7	2	40	473
2024	187	104	1	108	3	1	33	437

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Laurel Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	601	37.0	16.2	57.1
2015	635	9.0	70.5	51
2016	666	43.0	15.4	51.8
2017	728	52.0	14.0	n/a
2018	822	57.0	14.4	n/a
2019	631	46.0	13.7	n/a
2020	713	50.0	14.2	n/a
2021	701	51.2	13.6	n/a
2022	697	47.0	14.8	n/a
2023	473	33.0	14.3	n/a
2024	437	27.5	15.8	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Laurel Middle School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2014	601	37.0	16.2	57.1
2015	635	9.0	70.5	51
2016	666	43.0	15.4	51.8
2017	728	52.0	14.0	n/a
2018	822	57.0	14.4	n/a
2019	631	46.0	13.7	n/a
2020	713	50.0	14.2	n/a
2021	701	51.2	13.6	n/a
2022	697	47.0	14.8	n/a
2023	473	33.0	14.3	n/a
2024	437	27.5	15.8	n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Laurel Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,641 (13.7%)	$10,244 (85.3%)	$12,007

Data source: Delaware Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Laurel Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 28^th of 52 Middle schools	Ranks 34^th of 53 Middle schools	10.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	48	28.2	19.8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel School District)	48	28.2	19.8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Delaware)	51.9	38.1	13.8%
6th Grade Mathematics (Laurel Middle School)	40.7	26.5	14.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Laurel School District)	40.7	26.5	14.2%
6th Grade Mathematics (Delaware)	37.6	25.1	12.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	59.3	32.1	27.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel School District)	59.3	32.1	27.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Delaware)	54.6	42.6	12%
7th Grade Mathematics (Laurel Middle School)	36.8	25.5	11.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Laurel School District)	36.8	25.5	11.3%
7th Grade Mathematics (Delaware)	41	28.9	12.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel Middle School)	58.1	41.6	16.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Laurel School District)	58.1	41.6	16.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Delaware)	52.1	41.3	10.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Laurel Middle School)	48.3	15.1	33.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Laurel School District)	48.3	15.1	33.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Delaware)	38	24.3	13.7%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	631	473	25%
African American	162	101	37.7%
American Indian	11	7	36.4%
Asian	4	3	25%
Hispanic	96	110	14.6%
Pacific Islander	1	2	100%
White	322	210	34.8%
Two or More Races	35	40	14.3%

Schools Near Laurel Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				DeSSA Science (2024)		DeSSA Social Studies (2024)	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts (2024)				Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics (2024)				Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	DeSSA Science 5th Grade	DeSSA Science 8th Grade	DeSSA Social Studies 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments English Language Arts 8th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 5th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 6th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 7th Grade	Smarter Balanced Assessments Mathematics 8th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Laurel Middle School	Public	7-8	1133 S Central Ave	Laurel	19956	Sussex County	Laurel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 875-6110	437	28	15.8		187 (42.8%)	104 (23.8%)	108 (24.7%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	33 (7.6%)	22.4	46^th of 54 public middle schools	14.8%		32.3	34^th of 53 public middle schools	35.8%	12		5.5	15.3			33.9	26.6			19.2	18.0	$12,007	$1,641	$10,244
Delmar Middle School	Public	5-8	200 North Eighth Street	Delmar	19940	Sussex County	Delmar School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 846-9544	737	37	19.9		417 (56.6%)	143 (19.4%)	102 (13.8%)	19 (2.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (7.3%)	37.4	33^rd of 54 public middle schools	38.9%		50.3	21^st of 53 public middle schools	60.4%	12	16.5	9.9	30.6	30.9	23.5	42.0	33.3	19.9	23.3	27.1	28.2	$9,600	$664	$8,753
Seaford Middle School	Public	6-8	500 East Stein Highway	Seaford	19973	Sussex County	Seaford School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 629-4587	812	56	14.5		216 (26.6%)	310 (38.2%)	231 (28.4%)	7 (0.9%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	45 (5.5%)	26.9	42^nd of 54 public middle schools	22.2%		24.6	42^nd of 53 public middle schools	20.8%			8.1	20.3		32.7	36.2	29.7		19.2	18.8	15.0	$12,500	$1,031	$12,174
Georgetown Middle School	Public	6-8	301 West Market Street	Georgetown	19947	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 856-1900	886	58	15.2		196 (22.1%)	85 (9.6%)	569 (64.2%)	2 (0.2%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (3.5%)	47.5	23^rd of 54 public middle schools	57.4%		47.9	22^nd of 53 public middle schools	58.5%	1		16.3	27.7		30.6	48.5	41.9		19.7	41.8	30.0	$13,441	$740	$15,091
Woodbridge Middle School	Public	6-8	307 Laws Street	Bridgeville	19933	Sussex County	Woodbridge School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 337-8289	615	44	13.9		292 (47.5%)	134 (21.8%)	155 (25.2%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.2%)	22.5	45^th of 54 public middle schools	16.7%		35.1	33^rd of 53 public middle schools	37.7%	12		8.0	15.0		29.1	30.3	23.2		20.1	23.2	11.1	$12,778	$1,359	$10,982
Millsboro Middle School	Public	6-8	302 East State Street	Millsboro	19966	Sussex County	Indian River School District	No	No	No	Yes	(302) 934-3200	756	53	14.2		371 (49.1%)	117 (15.5%)	198 (26.2%)	10 (1.3%)	5 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	54 (7.1%)	40.5	29^th of 54 public middle schools	46.3%		31.3	35^th of 53 public middle schools	34.0%	6		11.3	27.1		38.9	38.9	40.3		27.0	26.3	20.9	$14,048	$696	$15,819

Frequently Asked Questions about Laurel Middle School

What high school do graduates of Laurel Middle School attend?

Students who attend Laurel Middle School usually go on to attend Laurel Senior High School

How many students attend Laurel Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 437 students attended Laurel Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Laurel Middle School?

Students at Laurel Middle School are 43% White, 25% Hispanic, 24% African American, 8% Two or more races.

What district is Laurel Middle School in?

Laurel School District

Is Laurel Middle School a good school?

Laurel Middle School ranks in the bottom 14.8% of Delaware middle schools.

Rate Laurel Middle School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Delaware Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.